Post any puzzles you have or post your analysis of any games played on Net-Chess or anywhere else. Posts which do not contain game puzzles or analysis will be removed, such posts belong in the general forum. Commentary and discussion on openings is also welcome here.

This time, we are going to take at alook at a game that was played in the current (2013) Net-Chess Championship Tournament in round one (1) between Martijn (White) and Attasantotjia (Black.
The opening features the very vnereable King's Gambit, and I am supplying a bit of background on the opening as we move forward. In this game, Black goes astray very early, but there ares ome nice points to be seen and I hope you enjoy the game and as usual , ALL feedback, suggestions, comments are welcome to be sent to me here, or e mail or in game chat!:)

King's Gambit: This is one of the most ancient openings/gambits in all of Chess. Actually, the first game in most of the popular databases is: Greco-NN; Europe 1620, won by Greco by checkmate in 23 moves. The King's Gambit is charactorized by one side or the other sacrificing material for rapid development, attacking chances agasint the others King, and other positional gains. Black, of course, of a choice as early as move two (2) to either accept or decline the gambit; both choices can lead to very tactical and exciting play! Some acheivements for each side are: for WHITE, The open F file; and the possibility of a very solid center by d4 after the removel of blacks e pawn. BLACK has three (3) main ways of continuing: continuing his development with...Bc5, ignoring the gambit offer; counter in the center with 2...d5 (Black's choice in this game ), which leads to a gambit offered by Black; or to accept the sacrifice with a variety of continuations.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 {The Falkbeer Counter-Gambit; this counter-gambit was played inh the 19th centutry and gained popularity through the 1930's, tho today modern theroy has it under a cloud, it is still frequently played} 3.exd5 {White's main continuation although moves such as 3.Nc3, 3.Nf3 and 3.d4 are sometimes played} 3...exf4 {In the erarly days a very rare continuaton ( the usual contimuation is 3...e4), this move has gained in popularity and is second most frequently played now aftee the main continuation.} 4.Nf3 c5? {A very unfortunate idea from Black. There are twelve (12) moves that have been played here by black in the database, but this is not one of them! Usual and I think best, is 4..Nf6. The text move hopes to close the center and also goads White to take the pawn dxc6e.p when Nxc6 gives Black a developmental edge, but by White's simple reply the game is now an actual gambit with Black staying a pawn behind and lagging badly behind in development} 5.Nc3 {Simple and best!} 5...5...Bd6 6.d4! {Ripping open the Center and exploting his better development} 6...cxd4 {Falling in with White's plan, maybe a little better or at least trickier was 6...Ne7!? 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nd7 when Black is stil behind, but at least most of the imminent threats from White are parried.} 7.Qd4+- {Now we see the consequences of lagging and non-development by black. White dominates the whole board, threats to Black's K-side are now apprearng, the foremost is the threat to his g pawn} 7...Nf6 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bxf4 0-0?? {giving White a whole piece and resigning himself to defeat! Of course 9...Bxf4 was better, but after 10.Qxf4 0-0 black is also much worse, but at least he is fighting} 10.Bxd6 {of course!} 10...Re8+ 11.Be2 Bg4 {Desperately trying for counterplay, but it is too little too late as White can easily brush the "threats" off as he consolidates and begins to attack the Black King.} 12.Ba3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nc6 14.Qd2 Ne7 {14...Ne5 is no better since White simply plays 16.0-0-0 and again, all is well for him } 15.d6! {simple, forceful and strong. That best describes White's play throughout this whole game!} 15...Nc6 {Again, 15...Ng6 changes nothing after 16.0-0-0} 16.0-0-0 a6 17.d6 {passed pawns must be pushed!} 17...Re5 18.Bc4 {The only slower move of the game. The best move, seemingly to me at least, was 18.f4! and the poor Rook is off and must sacrifice itself for the exchange by...Rxe2 and after Qxe2 the game is over, White's move IS good, I just wanted to demonstrate another alternative} 18...b5 19.f4 Rh5 {There are threats everywhere! the obvious 19...bxc4 wasnt good becasue of the very sly move 20.Qg2!} 20.Qg2 {Anyhow!} 20...bxc4 21.Qxc6 and with facing more loss and no chances here, BLACK RESIGNED!

A very pretty little game! Blacks 4th move indeed was the cource of all further troubles! White played very simple and strong and was never at a loss for the best contunuation! I hope you enjoyed and I will, at least this next couple months, continue to focus on games from our own Net-Chess 2013 Championship! Any suggestions, comments, or ideas PLEASE let me know

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 {The Falkbeer Counter-Gambit; this counter-gambit was played inh the 19th centutry and gained popularity through the 1930's, tho today modern theroy has it under a cloud, it is still frequently played} 3.exd5 {White's main continuation although moves such as 3.Nc3, 3.Nf3 and 3.d4 are sometimes played} 3...exf4 {In the erarly days a very rare continuaton ( the usual contimuation is 3...e4), this move has gained in popularity and is second most frequently played now aftee the main continuation.} 4.Nf3 c5? {A very unfortunate idea from Black. There are twelve (12) moves that have been played here by black in the database, but this is not one of them! Usual and I think best, is 4..Nf6. The text move hopes to close the center and also goads White to take the pawn dxc6e.p when Nxc6 gives Black a developmental edge, but by White's simple reply the game is now an actual gambit with Black staying a pawn behind and lagging badly behind in development} 5.Nc3 {Simple and best!} 5...5...Bd6 6.d4! {Ripping open the Center and exploting his better development} 6...cxd4 {Falling in with White's plan, maybe a little better or at least trickier was 6...Ne7!? 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nd7 when Black is stil behind, but at least most of the imminent threats from White are parried.} 7.Qd4+- {Now we see the consequences of lagging and non-development by black. White dominates the whole board, threats to Black's K-side are now apprearng, the foremost is the threat to his g pawn} 7...Nf6 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bxf4 O-O?? {giving White a whole piece and resigning himself to defeat! Of course 9...Bxf4 was better, but after 10.Qxf4 O-O black is also much worse, but at least he is fighting} 10.Bxd6 {of course!} 10...Re8+ 11.Be2 Bg4 {Desperately trying for counterplay, but it is too little too late as White can easily brush the "threats" off as he consolidates and begins to attack the Black King.} 12.Ba3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nc6 14.Qd2 Ne7 {14...Ne5 is no better since White simply plays 16.0-0-0 and again, all is well for him } 15.d6! {simple, forceful and strong. That best describes White's play throughout this whole game!} 15...Nc6 {Again, 15...Ng6 changes nothing after 16.0-0-0} 16.O-O-O a6 17.d7 {passed pawns must be pushed!} 17...Re5 18.Bc4 {The only slower move of the game. The best move, seemingly to me at least, was 18.f4! and the poor Rook is off and must sacrifice itself for the exchange by...Rxe2 and after Qxe2 the game is over, White's move IS good, I just wanted to demonstrate another alternative} 18...b5 19.f4 Rh5 {There are threats everywhere! the obvious 19...bxc4 wasnt good becasue of the very sly move 20.Qg2!} 20.Qg2 {Anyhow!} 20...bxc4 21.Qxc6 {and with facing more loss and no chances here, BLACK RESIGNED!}[/pgn]